Racket Squad

KWVT in Salem is airing these shows, we take each show and in most cases have over 175 renders for each. We adjust levels, cut out the bad stuff as much as we can without affecting the content (bad splices and fast level shifts) remove as much audio and video noise as we can. So all in all we do the best we can.

The reason these stories are in most cases as relevant today as they were in the 1950's If you change a couple of points (change Sacks of wheat to new computer programs) you could pull most of these off today.

As I edit each show I learn a little more on how easy we can make it for those that will take our money or other items.

Ken

I love old TV shows and often watch them on my computer. How? Well, archive.org has a lot of public domain TV series and I have tried quite a few over the years. One of these is "Racket Busters". While they don't have every episode, they have quite a few and they are well worth your time--even if they are a bit dated when you see them today.

Each episode features Captain Braddock (Reed Hadley) as the seemingly all-knowing cop. He investigates cases involving frauds and con artists. Each episode begins and ends with the same spiel--a weakness of the show. Instead of tailoring the narration for each episode, it's just tacked on to the standard introduction--a preachy one at that.

What follows are various recreations of various crimes. Some are rather unusual but many (such as one about pyramid schemes) are timeless and might help you avoid such scams today. In each case, the crime is recreated AND Braddock always catches them. And, surprisingly, in most cases, he gets the money back to the victims! Not exactly real life, but quite enjoyable and worth your time--particularly if you like shows like "Dragnet" or "The Naked City".

If I recall correctly, the main character used to address the camera at some point to tell the audience, "Remember, there are people who will slap you on the back with one hand, and pick your pocket with the other!"

This is a superb show. I love programs from this era. Since I was born in the late 60's, I never experienced them first hand, but, better later than never. The majority of them like the Twilight Zone, (my favorite), Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Hour, Dragnet, Perry Mason, Andy Griffith, were all in syndication over the years to enjoy but I only found this in the last 5 years.

They are real crimes retold for TV, like Dragnet, etc. Reed Hadley has an incredible presence and the stories are very original. That's whats great about older shows, the stories are fresh and to the point, not rehashes of the same thing over and over. There are no flashy effects, grating music nor gratuitous scenes not germaine to the story-simply a ratings grab.

Yes, I do like the CSIs and NCISs as they have really good plotlines as well and I'm well aware they take immense liberties with the science. However, the old shows just tell it like it is. You get the story, plain and simple. Many of the plotlines are relevant today.

I think more people, especially the younger generations should watch and try to appreciate how it "used to be" instead of expecting remakes of everything and have it dumbed down and awash with needless extras.

Three episodes of Racket Squad were edited into a 74m. second feature. Released in UK cinemas, in July 1955, by Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors under the title Mobs Incorporated. Classified with an A certificate by the British Board of Film Censors. No child under 16 could see an A film, unless accompanied by an adult. It was a common practise back then for kids to get around this minor difficulty by approaching a complete stranger in the cinema queue and pleading " 'ere Guv'nor, can you take us in ? ". Reed Hadley gives an authoritative performance as a police captain with integrity and an overwhelming desire to see lawbreakers apprehended and taken into custody to face justice. Highly entertaining series of television films, featuring Hadley, the great all-rounder, who never failed to turn in a polished performance.